Who is running for Iowa Court of Appeals, Retention: Judge John M. Sandy in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Iowa Court of Appeals, Retention: Judge John M. Sandy on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for all voters in Iowa.
This is a retention vote: voters decide yes or no on keeping this judge for another term. Judges may not promise how they would rule, so we show experience and record instead of issue positions.
John M. Sandy
· IncumbentJudge, Iowa Court of Appeals
John M. Sandy, of Spirit Lake, has served on the Iowa Court of Appeals since June 2024 and was an Iowa district court judge from March 20212. Before becoming a judge he was a first assistant public defender in Minnesota and managing partner of Sandy Law Firm, P.C.2. He is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for a retention vote, where voters decide whether he stays on the court18.
- Judge, Iowa Court of Appeals, since June 20242
- Iowa district court judge, appointed March 20212
- First assistant public defender in Minnesota; shareholder and managing partner, Sandy Law Firm, P.C.2
- Undergraduate degrees, University of St. Thomas (2007); law degree, University of St. Thomas School of Law (2010)2
- Appointed to the Court of Appeals in June 2024. The nominating commission sent the governor five nominees, including Sandy, and the governor had 30 days to appoint4; the Judicial Branch announced that Gov. Kim Reynolds would administer his ceremonial oath at an October 23, 2024 investiture3. Under Iowa's merit system, judges are appointed by the governor from a list of applicants chosen by nonpartisan commissions and then stand for retention in a general election5. Because he was appointed in 2024, 2026 is his first retention vote, as appointed appellate judges stand for retention after their first year and again at the end of each term5.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.